Anti-rotation device and method of use

Abstract

A device for reducing rotation of an article during singulation of a stack of articles is disclosed. The device may include a torsion element, a rotatable member configured to rotate about an elongated axis of the torsion element between a first position and a second position, and a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member. An outer surface of the revolving member contacts a drive belt in the first position and an article in the second position. The torsion element exerts torque on the rotatable member when it moves from the first position towards the second position. The torque causes the outer surface of the revolving member to apply a frictional force to the article, thereby minimizing rotation of the article. Systems and methods of singulating articles are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for reducing rotation of an article comprising:
 a base; 
 a drive belt connected to the base 
 a torsion element connected to the base, the torsion element disposed in proximity to the drive belt; 
 a rotatable member coupled to the torsion element, the rotatable member rotatable between at least a first position and a second position about an axis which extends through the center of the torsion element; and 
 a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member and configured to revolve about an axis perpendicular to the base; wherein:
 when the rotatable member is in the first position, an outer surface of the revolving member is in contact with the drive belt, and 
 when the rotatable member is in the second position, the torsion element applies a torque to the revolving member via the rotatable member, and the outer surface of the revolving member is in contact with, and applies a force to, an article which is also in contact with the drive belt. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion element is a torsion bar connected to the base. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the torsion element is a helical torsion spring disposed within or around a structural support member which is connected to the base. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member is a lever arm. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the rotatable member is configured to transition from the first position toward the second position when the drive belt brings the article into contact with the revolving member. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the central axis extends perpendicularly relative to the elongated axis of the rotatable member. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the force applied by the revolving member to the article comprises a frictional force. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the revolving member comprises a plurality of wheels rotatably disposed on a wheel shaft, the wheel shaft being coupled to the rotatable member. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a shaft positioned along the central axis, wherein the shaft is coupled to the rotatable member, and the revolving member is disposed about, and configured to spin relative to, the shaft. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the revolving member comprises a shaft portion and an extended wheel portion fixed to the shaft portion, the shaft portion and the extended wheel portion configured to rotate about the central axis, and the shaft portion coupled to the rotatable member. 
     
     
       11. A system for singulating a stack of articles comprising:
 a base; 
 a conveyor belt connected to the base, the conveyor belt configured to move a stack of articles forward; 
 a drive belt disposed proximate to the conveyor belt such that, as the stack of articles moves forward, the stack of articles contacts the drive belt, the drive belt configured to laterally accelerate an article in the stack of articles; and 
 an anti-rotation device disposed proximate the drive belt such that a portion of the anti-rotation device is capable of contacting the drive belt, and configured to provide a frictional force to a back face of the article, to thereby resist upward motion of the back face during lateral acceleration of the article, the anti-rotation device comprising:
 a torsion element connected directly or indirectly to the base, 
 a rotatable member coupled to the torsion element and rotatable between at least a first position and a second position about an axis extending through the center of the torsion element, 
 a revolving member coupled to the rotatable member and configured to revolve about an axis perpendicular to the base; 
 
 wherein, when the rotatable member is in a first position, an outer surface of the revolving member is in contact with the drive belt, and 
 wherein, when the rotatable member is in the second position, the torsion element applies a torque to the rotatable member and the revolving member, the outer surface of the revolving member is in contact with the back face of the article, and the front face of the article is in contact with the drive belt. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the drive belt and the conveyor belt are positioned on different, non-parallel planes. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the drive belt is perforated. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , further comprising an air-moving component configured to apply a suction force to the front face of the article to thereby couple lateral movement of the drive belt with lateral movement of the article. 
     
     
       15. A method of singulating a stack of articles while reducing damage to each article, the method comprising:
 moving a stack of articles forward; 
 separating and laterally accelerating a forward-most article from the stack of articles; and 
 applying a frictional force to a back face of the forward-most article to resist upward motion of the back face during lateral acceleration of the forward-most article, wherein the frictional force is applied to the back face by a revolving member indirectly coupled to a torsion element when a lever arm coupled to the revolving member rotates from a first position to a second position about an axis extending through the torsion element thereby causing the torsion element to exert a torque on the lever arm. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the torsion element is a torsion bar or a helical torsion spring.